For sale: £18m, one-of-four Ferrari 290 MM driven by Fangio

RM Sotheby’s reckons this rare, 1956 Ferrari will fetch over $28 million when it is offered up for auction in December in New York. £18 million then, give or take. Welcome Internet, to Juan Manuel Fangio’s old Ferrari.

Regarded by many as the finest Formula One driver in history, five-time F1 champion Fangio raced this 290 MM – chassis number 0626, if you want to geek out – in the 1956 Mille Miglia. In fact, it was built specifically for Fangio to race in the famous 1,000-mile race, where he eventually finished fourth.

It was one of just four 290 MMs to have even been built, was raced in Europe by future F1 champ Phil Hill, emerged victorious in the 1957 Buenos Aires 1000KM race and was campaigned at the Nürburgring and the Rouen GP.

The 3.5-litre, V12-engined Ferrari was sold in 1957 to Enzo Ferrari’s friend, Temple Buell. It then passed on through two Ferrari team owners, racing until 1964, at which point it found its way into a private collection in the States.

After a 34 year stretch in the hands of collector Pierre Bardinon, it passed onto the current owner, and has been presented at many events you expect a car like this to appear: the 1987 Cartier ‘Hommage to Ferrari’ exhibition and the Mille Miglia Storica.

It’s Ferrari Classiche certified, retains the original engine, gearbox and body, and comes with a thick wad of history too. Like we say, the estimated sale price could very well exceed £18 million.

Reckon it’s worth it?